By: [Galo, Maíl]
This act, seemingly harmless, takes on a dark dimension when analyzed under the magnifying glass of social consciousness. As the world witnesses the seventh day of an open war in the Middle East – with the active participation of the US and Israel – the image of the “best in the world” smiling next to the leader of a power at war works as a powerful social anesthetic. This is where my reflection on networks makes sense: football does not go hand in hand with social consciousnessand this exhibition in the middle of war is a political necessity for Trump, not an honor for the sport.
The recent meeting between Lionel Messi and Donald Trump at the White House has sparked more than just photographic flashes; has revealed the dangerous intersection between the multimillion-dollar sports spectacle and the political strategy of image-washing. While the world looks at an idol, politics looks at a tool.
During the event, held in the East Room of the presidential residence, the following highlights were given:
- Tribute to the champion: Trump praised the team’s performance and Messi’s influence on the growth of American football (soccer) since his arrival.
- Gift delivery: Next to Jorge Mas (owner of the club), the Argentine star gave the president an Inter Miami shirt with the number 47 on the back and a ball autographed by the entire team.
- Context of the meeting: The ceremony occurred after the pink team’s victory against Vancouver Whitecaps in the final, consolidating Inter as the current benchmark of the sport in that country.
The images of the meeting, which show Messi and Trump shaking hands, quickly went viral, generating a strong impact both in the sporting and international political spheres.
The use of the figure: Idolatry or distraction?
It is no coincidence that this meeting occurs in a context of war conflict and at the gates of a World Cup. Trump has used the figure of Messi – a symbol of success and sporting purity – to attract attention to his speech and, fundamentally, to try to «wash» a public image worn down by the war. This is where we must ask ourselves: to what extent is football capable of masking the most atrocious political cruelties?
The image of a footballer, no matter how brilliant it may be on the field, becomes an empty container when it lends itself to these stagings. As I have reflected previously, football does not seem to go hand in hand with social consciousness. It is not about «canceling» someone for having a supposedly «poor social reading», but rather pointing out the responsibility of an exhibition of this magnitude at critical moments for humanity.
A debt of conscience and a call to reflect
We cannot demand that an athlete be an organic intellectual, but we cannot ignore the weight of his actions off the field either. When football becomes the makeup of war and inequality, it stops being “just a game” and becomes a silent accomplice. The question remains: Will we continue to allow the shine of a ball to blind us to the darkness of real politics?
